Raging Bull (1980)

*SPOILER FREE

"Some people aren’t that lucky… like the one that Marlon Brando played in “On the Waterfront“, a down-and-outer. You remember that scene in the back of the car with his brother Charlie, a small time rocket guy? It went something like this. " It wasn’t him, Charlie. It was you. You remember that night you said, “Kid, this ain’t your night. “We’re going for the price on Wilson”. “This ain’t your night.” My night. I could’ve taken Wilson apart that night. So what happens? He gets the title shot outdoors on the ballpark and what do I get? A one-way ticket to Palooka-ville! I was never no good after that night, Charlie. You reach a peak, then it’s downhill. It was you, Charlie. You was my brother. You should’ve looked out for me just a little bit. You should’ve taken care of me just a little bit… instead of making me take them dives for short-end money. You don’t understand. I coulda had class. I could’ve been a contender. I could’ve been somebody instead of a bum, which is what I am. Let’s face it. It was you, Charlie. It was you, Charlie."" _ I am quoting Robert De Niro quoting Marlon Brando. This is the mightiest, most compelling acting in cinema.

My wife joined me while I was outlining this article last night, at the time I was having a particular state of mind I often have after watching a great film, I call that Cinematic Orgasm. What is up? She asked. Tomorrow's film is larger than most films, larger than life, larger than me. I responded. I am so overawed by its magnificence that I am hesitant about anything I write should be good enough.

Raging Bull is biographical drama following Italian-American boxer Jake LaMotta and his crashing-down life as he's not able to cope with his temper, jealousy, and insecurities. Leading his life and everyone around him to a dark, dead end.

Capturing the ever-changing emotions through unconventional cinematography. The POV shots, the in and out of focus, the slow motion, the dolly zoom, and the stunning visual effects that went into each sequence that submerge and exhaust us as if it's us who were fighting in that ring. The ring that is an allegory of life.

Making it with the intention it'd be his last feature film, giving it everything he felt and he knew, only to be set in stone as one of the most important filmmakers in the world. This is Martin Scorsese's cinematic rebirth. Whose films, until this day, define American cinema.

And going through immense physical transformation, and doing as many as one thousand rounds of boxing while training with the real Jake LaMotta, this is Robert De Niro at his absolute best. Delivering one of the greatest performances ever committed to the silver screen.

As confronting as cinema can be. When the real Jake LaMotta saw the movie, he said it made him realize for the first time what a terrible person he had been. He asked the real Vicki LaMotta "Was I really like that?". Vicki replied "You were worse.".

This is not a sports, or boxing movie, this is a motion picture about a troubled, insecure man who had the opportunity to have it all, but instead let it burst into flames. This is a film about self-destruction. This is a masterful character study of a ragging bull.

Honorable mentions: On the Waterfront (1954)

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Available to watch, rent/buy on The Criterion Collection, Amazon Prime Video, and on Apple tv

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